Masters from the City of Lights

Spanish Visa (application from India)

If you’re applying from France, then the school might be able to help you. From what I have heard, the process in Paris is pretty slick.
But, the people sitting behind the glass windows at Spanish Embassy in Delhi, India have no clue about.. well anything.

Challenges at the Embassy

1. I saw some students being harassed for bringing their admission letters in English; they were sent back several times.2. Some got harassed for not bringing enough documents to support their finances, even though they had a lot of documents!3. The issue of the PCC – the police clearing certificates for every country you’ve resided in in the last 5 years! The people at the embassy don’t know that you don’t need it if you go for less than 6 months!!! I was sent back. I went to the French Embassy for help. They gave me a link to apply for it (because they were awesome! Always remember that you should speak with the natives (French people at the French Embassy and so on…) at the embassies in India; the Indians working their are clueless and well… mostly useless! I applied for the PCC and received mine in about 2-3 weeks. But luckily I found this document online that lists all the documents you need for the Spanish Visa and took it as proof with me to the embassy that I don’t need the PCC and things were sorted 🙂4. The embassy is fairly unorganised so be on time and also notice their schedule. Somedays they’re open for collection, some for legalisation and some for applications5. The security guy is a poor man and has to take all the blame because of the clueless people inside. Don’t get mad at him 🙂

*Just another issue that I face (or thought I faced) because of some confusion:
I read a document somewhere that stated that you can’t enter the Schengen Countries for at least 3 months after your residence permit in any of the Schengen Countries has expired. My French Residence Permit was expiring before my Spanish Visa’s commencement and this was annoying. DON’T WORRY :D. It only applies for travel and not for student visas. So, ignore this document if you find it somewhere. Haha

Amazing support from ESCP

1. Elena Potie helped me like crazy for all my Visa woes by fetching information about the Spanish, French and German Visas so that I can just somehow come back to Europe and resume my studies!
2. Laura Garcia and Alberto Martinez at the Madrid Campus helped me by answering my 87 calls and 63 emails! 😛 They even called the embassy in India to get their s**t together and urgent-couriered me documents several times to India!

Application Procedure:

1. Now, don’t apply for a 1 year visa unless you’re going to Spain for 1 year or you can manage to get all the extra documents

3. No appointment needed. Just go their with everything mentioned in the list + any extra documents that might make your case stronger

4. Don’t forget to carry a copy of the list as proof. Again, they don’t know anything and need to be reminded. Use the list! Be polite!

5. They’re supposed to call or text you to inform you about the collection, but they might forget. This happened with me and the 10 other people I met their. They didn’t just inform us. Haha. Just visit the embassy in 21 days if you don’t get a call/ text within that period. They made us wait their for about 5 hours and finally handed us the passports with the VISA 😀

Some extra notes:

1. Make a cover letter in English and Spanish. If you don’t, then they’ll make you prepare on right there. It’s better to take a printed one which mentions all the documents you’re attaching and their purpose2. Also mention the exact dates of your study3. Put your Spanish Address (ESCP will help you with the address :D)4. If you have a French Social Security and/ or a mutuelle, then you may not need a separate insurance. This was my case, so I attached a copy of an attestation by LMDE that mentions that it covers me indefinitely in Spain. Don’t sweat if you don’t have it; just take an Indian insurance; they not so expensive anyway (note: you can only choose the insurance companies mentioned here – http://www.vfsglobal.com/spain/india/pdf/Indian_insurance_companies_020915.pdf)5. You don’t have to get any legalisation and translations for your documents if you’re applying for the 6 month Visa. So, ignore the students (you’ll become really close friends with them btw. You’ll have to stand their in the scorching sun for hours) you’d meet outside the embassy who are applying for longer visas! 😛